dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
Jeffrey Earnhardt was released as driver of Rick Ware Racing's No. 1 Chevrolet truck Tuesday after the team owner alleged Earnhardt and his management company were shopping the sponsor in an effort to land another ride.
"It is pretty amazing the amount of calls we have received from owners about this situation, asking us what is going on and their concerns that a young driver and his management company are aggressively looking for another team with less to offer than the position they are currently in," Ware was quoted as saying in a team release.
Earnhardt, in his own statement, said he went searching for another opportunity when Fuel Doctor told Ware it wouldn't continue to sponsor Ware's truck.
"The facts support that we did reach out to other race teams after the sponsor notified Rick Ware and my group that they were pursuing alternative marketing venues and after we were contacted by Rick Ware informing us that he would be unable to support me without the sponsor's funding," Earnhardt said in a statement.
Ware said he considered the situation a breach of contract, and the search for a replacement driver was currently under way. According to Ware, he -- not Earnhardt -- was responsible for getting Fuel Doctor as sponsor.
Full article here
Late Tuesday afternoon, Jeffrey Earnhardt issued a response to Ware's charges. Here’s what Earnhardt said in his statement:
“To read that release was very upsetting and I’m disappointed to hear the inflammatory and disparaging statements personally made by Rick Ware about me and my company. The facts support that we did reach out to other race teams after the sponsor notified Rick Ware and my group that they were pursuing alternative marketing venues and after we were contacted by Rick Ware informing us that he would be unable to support me without the sponsor’s funding.
“This past Sunday, Rick advised us that he would only race me in Martinsville providing we signed a release to allow him out of his contract with JEI. That release never arrived and we notified him in writing on Monday that we expected to drive the #1 truck in Martinsville, in accordance with our contract. To suggest anything other than these facts does not reflect the truth and is unfair to the fans and us.”
"We are extremely thankful for Fuel Doctor's support over the past two years and will avoid compromising our progress this season by giving credence to the misinformation coming from RWR. This news speeds up the need to find an alternative ride and we look forward to continuing our run for rookie of the year with a new team.”
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